Mechanical fuse for artillery projectiles



April, 10, 1928. 1,665,899 A.VARAUD MECHANICAL FUSE FOR ARTILLERYPHOJ'ECTILES' u Fi Jan.'7 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 10, 1928.

I 1,665,899 A. VARAUD MECHANICAL FUSE} FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES FiledJan. 7. 1927 5 Sheeis-Sheet 2 April 10, 1928.

A. VARAUD MECHANICAL FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES Filed Jan-"F. 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 3 April 10, 1928. 1,665,899

A. VARAUD MECHANICAL FUSE FOR ARTILLBRY PROJEGTILES Filed Jan.'7. 1927SSheets-Sheet 4 April 10, 1928. 1,665,899

A. VARAUD MECHANICAL FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILES Filed Jan.7, 1927 5Sheets-Sfieet 5 Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

PATENT FFEQE.

ANDRE VABAUD, QF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND.

- MECHANICAL FUSE FOR ARTILLERY PROJECTILE S.

Application filed January 7, 1927, Serial No. 159,530,.and inSwitzerland January 16, v1926.

The invention concerns mechanical fuses for artillery pro ectiles of thetype in which the release of a striker device is controlled by a rotarymember whose angular position can be set or adjusted prior to firing andwhich is driven during the flight of the projectile by a spring operatedclockwork in a direction opposite to its setting.

The invention more particularly refers to fuses of the kind in which thedriving motor-of the clockwork is constituted by a barrel shaftaccommodated in the axis of the fuse in such a manner that it maydescribe several revolutions in one direction, for ef fecting beforefiring simultaneously the winding and the setting of the fuse, and inthe inverse direction, during the trajectory, under the act-ion of thepower spring, for driving the rotary member controlling the release ofthe striker member and for transmitting the driving power to aregulating device of the clockwork with a dead-beat cscapement andspiral balance.

Tillie fuse according to this invention is essentially characterized bythe fact that the frame. housing the different movable members of theclockwork is composed of at least two parts, a fixed one containing thepower spring which is rendered integral with the body of the fuse, and amovable one. which prior to firing may be angularly displaced withregard to the other part in order to effect simultaneously the windingof the power spring, the setting or adjusting of the'time of ignition ofthe charge of the projectile, and further by the fact that meansoperating by inertia, are provided for rendering the movable part of theframe integral' with the fixed part during the completetrajectory of theprojectile.

The attached drawing shows, by way of example. one form in which thisnew mechanical fuse can be executed and fitted re spectively to adouble-acting explosive shell (Fig. l) and to a single-acting explosiveshell. more especially designed for firing against aeroplanes (Fig.

d igure 1 is an axial section representing this form in the positionjust after machining. that before firing.

Figure 2 is an axial section, turned round by 18(l-degrees in ratio toFigure 1, showing said form adapted to the single-acting explosiveshell. The position indicated is that of fuse when detonation wouldoccur.

Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line AA of Figure l, on upper plateof clockwork frame, showing how the key is to drive a movable part ofsaid frame. ln this figure a dotted line also indicates the fuse balanceaccommodated within the upper plate of said movable part of frame.

Figure 4 is a cross-section on the line BB of Figure 1, under the upperplate of clock-work frame, showing, in plan view, the regulating device.

Figure 5 is a cr0ss-secti0n on the line CC of Figure 1, under a middleplate of clock-work frame, showing how the movable part of said framecarries along, while revolving, the fusedriving shaft.

Figure 6 is a cross-section on the line DD of Figure 1, under theclock-work barrel, showing how the fuse driving shaft carries along anauxiliary shaft for regulating the firing time of the projectile.

Figure 7 is a cross-section on the line EE of Figure 1, under a steelplate set between the barrel and the bottom of clockwork frame, showinga plan view of the controlling device for releasing the striker.

Figure 8 is a section on the axis of the fuse of another working form ofthe device for starting the balance.

Figure 9 is a plan View showing the position of the balance prior tofiring.

Figure 10 is a similar plan view showing the device in its operativeposition and the position which the balance will take at the departureof the projectile and which it conserves during the complete duration ofthe linear acceleration.

Referring to the attached'drawing, it will be seen (Figures 1 and 2),that the cylindrical body of the fuse is composed of two parts 1 and 2,screwed on each other. The periphery of lower part 2 shows a steadypin3, the head whereof slightly protrudes beyond the shell. for angularlyfixing the latter on to a timing apparatus.

Axially mounted in cap 1 of the fuse, so as to be freely rotatable, is akey 4, which a slanting screw 5, co-operating withthe conical bottom ofa recess 6 in the cylindrical body, prevents from axial displacement.Said key is provided, at the end opposite to its driving slot, With atransversal head rel 33, fitted with two lugs. 34 and fixed with 7(Figure 3), the function whereof is here i inafter described.

' 2 of the fuse. a

' Whether-shell be single or double acting,

the detonating device is housed within a cylindrical cavity formed inthe axis of body In the first case (Figure 1), detonating deviceincludes a primer plunger 10-, subjected to the action of a spring 11,tending to keep the plunger'downward in the bottonr of its location,said plunger being provided,

' on its periphery, with air-gaps 12; a safety stay-bolt 13, constitutedby a small cylindrical piston, operating in a radial groove 14 andnormally kept engaged with a cross bore 15 of primer plunger 10 by meansof a lever .16 subjected to the action of a, spring 17 and held in itsoperative position, till firing,

by a pin 18; a primer 19, screwed into'the axis of plunger 10 and astriker 20,. slidingly mounted within a guide located in the axis of thefuse. Said striker is subjected to the action of a percussion spring 21,resting, on the one side, under the bottom of the clock-work frame, andon the other side,

against a fiange provided on striker head.

. The said striker head is ended by the percussion point 22normally'engaged within a transverse countersinkin the stay bolt 13.Close to its upper end, this striker is-. also provided with a" lateralnotch 23, the function whereof is hereinafter described.

In the second case (Figure 2) the primer,

plunger 10, instead of being elastically kept Within the bottom of itslocation by a spring, is permanently fastened therein by a staybolt ring24.

In the axis of fuse cap -1,'above the striker, there is' a bore having acylindrical portion 25 wherein is mounted a casing 26 containing theclock-work movement. The bore is provided at its lower end with twomortises 27, diametrically opposite to each other, within which are madeto fittwo projections ortenons 28 of the casing 26,so as to render.

this casing jointly connected with the fuse body in the angulardirection. This casing is in two semi-cylindrical parts rigidlyconnected by means of screws '29 diametrically opposite to one another,screwed into pieces constituting the barrel and the bottom of theclockwork frame respectively, which'pieces are hereafter described. 30and 31 indicate two plates the diameters whereof are slightly greaterthan the inner diameter of casing 26 so as to freely rotate within twocorresponding circular countersinks of said casing. The upperv plate 30is hollow so as to ance. These two plates 30, 31 are jointlyconnected bythree pillars 32, so as to form together a solid block capable ofrevolving in the casing at a certain distance below the lower plate 31;35 shows a steel stiffening disk; with two similarlugs (Figure 6)resting on a bottom disk 36, also fitted with two lugs 34,whichconstitutes the bottom of the .casing (Figure 7 v The lugs 34 of drum33.and the lugs on disks 35 and 36 are diametrically opposite to oneanother and superposed so as to jointly engage, as a single piece,

' within two corresponding mortises, diametrically opposite to eachother and located inside the lower part of casing so as to face theprojections or tenons 28. The screws 29 go through openings drilled intosaid proQ jections or tenons 28 and extend into the periphery ofthebottom of the drum 33 and the bottom-disk 36, respectively. The barrel33 and the .two disks 35 and 36 are also.

rigidly fastened together by means, of two strong pins 37 (Figures 6 and7). Thus it willv be seen that the frame for the clockwork' movement isentirely housed within casing 26 and that it is composed of two partszthe'one, movable within saidcasing and constituted by the two plates 30,31, the other fixed, jointly connected with the casing and formed by thethree superposed disks, 33, 25 and136. J

The power spring 38 of clock work movement is lodged within acylindrical cavity provided in drum'33. and closed with a barrel cover39.. The outer end of said spring is fas-' tened by'its usual bridle. todrum 33 :so that the bridle will be sunk into a corresponding hollow'inthe internal wall of. barrel while the springis" loose. vThe inner endof the spring is secured to a collet 40. mounted on a squareportion of acentral arbor 41accommodated in the axis of the casing. This-arborserves, in the first place, for winding up the spring 38 by means ofawinding mechanism hereafter described and, in the second place, fortransmitting the motive power, on the one side, by means of a pinion 42tothe organs of the clock-work controlling the action of the fusestriker and, on the other side, to the. clockwork regulating device, thedifferent gears whereof are, inserted between.

plates 30 and 31. The arbor 41 pivots by the same. This support 45 isfixed underthe lower plate 31. Arbor 41 is provided, at the rear end,thereof, with the pinion '42 v meshingwith anintermediate wheel 46fasprovlde accommodation for the fuse baltened to a small shaft 47pivoting, on the one side, in the bottom of drum 33 and, on the otherside, in the bottom disk 36. This shaft 47 which serves to transmitthemotive power to the controllin device releasing the striker during theflig t and to adjust the racemes firing itime of the charge in theprojectile prior to departure, also :carries a pinion 48, Inconstantmesh with the inner teeth ofa crown 49, freely "rotating withina circularcOunterSink :50, provided in the botto disk :36. V

In openings of the steel disk 35 are lo cated "three balls 51 (Figure 6)whereon the upper :face of crown-49 .can roll. In the.

edgeiof thecrown projecting parallel to the axis of the fuse is provideda notch' 52, wherein' the nose of a stopping lever 53 of the striker .ismade to engage when said striker is released (Figure This lever 53may'pivot around a shouldered screw .54, screwed thereon through thebottom-disk 36, so as to move out of notch 23 of the striker just whennotch 52 faces' thelever nose. The operatingsurfaces of lever and ofnotch 23, which co-operate in keeping'the striker bolted till detonationoccurs, are slightly slanting, so as to make unlocking of bolt easier.The lever 53 carries a perpendicular pin 55, against the free extremitywhereof operates a spring 56, located within a countersinkin bottom ofdrum33, for the purpose of counteracting the action of thepercussionspring 21. Said spring 56 normally ten'dsto keep -'lever 53resting against the inertia pin 57, integral with a clutch spring 58which automatically moves away under the action of inertia when theprojectile is fired'and said spring 56 also causes the nose of lever 53to penetrate within notch 52 when pin 57 has moved off and when saidnotch 52 happens to face the lever nose. The pin 57, fitted with spring58, operates in a cylinder 59, fixed under the bottom disk 36, andenters a cylindrical countersink formed in body 2 of the fuse.

The crown 49 presents a lug 60 radially projecting towards the'centerthereof. Said lug is normally kept engaged (Figure 1), within acorresponding notch 61 of the inertia pin 57 so as to prevent, on theone hand, crown 49 from moving clockwise and, on the other hand, toprevent the pin 57 from prematurely moving off before timing of fuse hasbeen performed; for example if the shell happens to drop down whilebeing handled.

As long as pin 57, is in its operative position (thatis during'the wholetime of transport, handling and loading of the shell), said lug 60,while remaining in notch 61 of pin 57, prevents "the crown 49 fromrotating in a clockwise direction and, consequent- 1y impedes everyaccidental release of striker 20. The inertiapin 57 however, doesnot'prevent the crown 49 from rotating in a counterclockwise directionby 335 degrees or so, when it is desired to adjust the firing time ofthe charge in projectile, namely to time the fuse. Said timing isperformed whilepower spring 38 is being'wound up with theaid of :the key4 by turning the same clockwise with a timing apparatus at the anglerequired to secure thefiring range desired. By turning the :key 4, thelower end whereof :is guided by an axial cylindrical tenon 62, fixed inthe cover of the upper plate 30, the movable frame 30, 31 is driven withthe aid of atransverse head-stud 7 and amortised plate*63, fastened-onthe .cover'of the hollow plate 30,.so as to co-operate with stud 7 ofthe key. The movable frame 30, 31 then describes, in a clockwisedirection, the same angle as key 4 while frictionally revolving within:the two insidegrooves located in the upper part of .the casing 26.

In the bearing 45, fixed under the plate 31, is mounted. a pinion 64,which constitutes the first rotating member of the gear-train in theclock-work movement. Said pinion-as it is the case for the wholegear-train is prevented from revolving until firing time (as hereinafterdescribed) and is in constant mesh with the inner teeth (S5 of a disk 66in the casing 26, between the lower plate 31 and the cover 39 of thedrum and squeezed, on a square portion of the driving shaft 41, betweenthe gudgeon 43 and the collet 40. :Because of :this construction, thedriving shaft 41 remains coupled with the movable frame 30, 31 as longas the pinion 64 is prevented from rotating. Thus, when the movableframe30', 31 is driven by means of key 4, the central shaft 41 is madeto revolve in a clockwise direction, which has, on the one hand, theeffect of winding up the power spring 38 and, on the other hand,simultaneously of turning a counterclockwise the crown 49 controllingthe device releasing the striker through gears 42, 46, 48.

The winding position of power spring and of timing thus imparted to thefuse, through difference between the movable part and the fixed part ofthe clock-work frame, is maintained between the moment of timing theprojectiles and the moment. of firing the latter, through friction ofthe plates 30, 31 within grooves of casing 26. Said friction is secured,on mounting up the frame in the casing, so as to remain constant, due toa space 67, existing between the fixed part 33, 35, 36 of the frame, andthe casing 26except at bottom of bottom 36-said space being suflicientfor allowing both halves of casing to be properly tightened on themovable part '30, 31 of frame, withthe aid of screws 29.

On firing, the movable frame 30, 31, integral with the key 4, isimmobilized in the casing 26 as soon as inertia begins to proveeffectual (through a device hereinafter described) whereas,simultaneously, the gear train of the clock-work movement and,consequently, also the pinion 64, are released (through a devicehereinafter described). Under the action of power spring 38, the

shaft 41 startsrevolving counter-clockwise driving, on the one hand, thewhole geartrain throughcrown '65 and, von'the otherv hand, the crown'49through gears .42, 46 and 48,."during the complete trajectory of theprojectile, theframe 30, 31, previously:

movable, as well. as key- 4, remaining all that time integralwitlrfusebody 1, 2..

Hence, the crown 49 resumes the initial.

position it-occupied prior to timing, that is its position just aftermachining, but, at thatv very moment, the pin 57, having withdrawn,through inertia, on pro ectile being fired, s no longer in the path oflug 60, and besides,

E the power derived from the. power spring still driving the shaft 41.and the crown 49,

the latter keeps rotating-in a clockwise direction until notch '52thereof exactly faces the nose of bolting lever 53. Under the ac- I tionof spring 56 andof the centrifugal force produced by axial. "revolution.of the pro ectile, the lever 58 instantly revolves in acounter-clockwise directionthrough an angle suflicient for permittingits complete withdrawl from the notch 23 of striker 20, thus causingsaidstriker to be instantaneous ly released. To make sure'that onfiring, the adjustment of the fuse is not likely to be destroyed, and tokeep the movable frame 30, 31 integral with the 'fuse bodydurin'g thecompletetrajectory, there is en'lployed. aplunger-ring 68 provided with"four steel points 69u Said ring is mounted around the key '4, axiallymovable within a circular countersmk v7O in the ogive' of the fuse.

This ring is normally kept inflthe bottom ofsaid countersink-bya fiatspring wlth occur on firing, there are two centrifugal (38 until theprojectile is fired.

bolts 74, slidingly' mountedwithin a trans. versebore in key 4 andsubjected to the action of a spring 76, said action being added to andcombined with'tha't. of the centrifugal force. These bolts are held intheir inoperative positio'nsilligure 1) by the-ring On firing said boltsmove off and are made totake up the position shown in FigureEZ, namely,the position required for preventing the ring 68 from sliding upwards.

The pinion' 64 being'in constant mesh with the inner teeth 65'ofthe'disk 66, keyed on the driving shaft, is carried at the lower end ofa small shaft 77 pivoting, on the one side, within the upper plate .30and, on the otherside, within bearing 45. 78 indicates a circularcountersink provided in the plate 31 securing free passage: for pinion64 when the apparatus is being mounted. Saidshaft 7-7 carrie's, abovethe lower plate 31,a.wh eel 7 9 operating a pinion 80made integral witha bevel' wheel-.82 operating asmall bevel pinion 83' carried by-asmallshaft 84 re- 'volvi'ng-in ,a bearing 85'. composed of two parts Insaidlbearing is fastened an .end-

piece screw'86, acting upon one end of shaft 84. In the middle of thisshaft-is fixed a double escape wheel 87. which co-operates with asector-shaped pallet 88 fixed on the shaft of rod 89 of the balance 90.'The rod 89 pivots axially in relation to the fuse, betwcen;the cover ofthe plate.v 3O

andf'the plate 31. The lower end of 'said rod revolves in plate 31',whereas the upper end thereof is made to bear against the extremity a ofan end-piece screw 91, located in the tenon 62guiding the key4. The rod89 carries, at the upper end. thereof, the ba1ance-90 which presents twopaddles projectinglbe yond each other. Each paddle is constituted by -athin flexible metallic blade, the free weight 92. in the form of a disk.

extremity whereof is fitted. with a-sma1l- The verge of balan'ce 89carries, between thebalance and thepallet. 88, 21. bevel pinion"93'which. meshes with a second bevel pinion 94 keyed at one end of asmall radial shaft 95, pivoting on the oneside, ina bridge 96 and, onthe other side, in another bridge 100, hereinafterdescribed. Behind thebevel pinion 94, said shaft is provided with a portion97, the diameterof which is larger,

and wherein is hired oneendof the cylindrica'l balance spring. 98. Theotherendof said spring is fastened'to a split ring 99 adjustable inangular position ona cylindrical shoulder lOO, formed 'bya stud lOl,

screwed on plate 31. Said. ring 99 presents a cylindrical projectionwhereon is frictionally'mounted a split ring 103, acting as regulatorand fitted with a stud 104 crossed by the last spire of the spiral. VThe detonation device, in the first case 0 a double-acting shell(Figure 1) operates as followsz i -Prior to firing,' V of primer 19 ismade impossible throughthe safety stay-bolt '13, accommodated betweenprimer 19 and point22 of striker, which stay-bolt is kept in thisoperativejposition by a lever 16 and a pin 18. On removing the latter,when firing,

as the action of linear acceleration is superior to that of angularacceleration, that is at least during the complete passage through thegun-bore, the' lever 16 being then kept, by the. force of inertia,strongly applied.

any ill-timed percussion said stay-bolt 13 is maintained in ts operativeposition as long tion of the centrifugal force, thus liberating thepercussion members 19 and 20,. which are then ready to perform theirfunctions.

Whilenormally operating as a timeshell, the latter bursts on release ofstriker 20, the point 22 whereof is made to pierce the primer 19,tightly kept within its location by the spring 11 (Figure 2), during thewhole trajectory. However on percussion firing, the primer-plunger 10 isprojected forward, at the moment of impact and in the usual manner,onthe point 22 of the striker, this against the action of spring 11.

In the case of the single-acting shell (Figure 2:), everything isperformed as in the preceding instance exceptthat any axial displacementof the primer-plunger is made impossible through the fixed stay-bolt 24,which. means that the shell can only operate as a time-shell;

' Inthis working" form the balance 90, prior to firing, is arrested inits cocked position by a pin 105 (Figures 8 and 9) 'which by inertiaiswithdrawn in. any known manner at the moment of firing.

The device is composed of an oscillating lever 106 having a nose 107 anda pivot 108.

'This" lever is subjected to, the action of a spring 109 which tends tohold it in its operative position, its free end then coming to" bear onthe hub of the escapement wheel 87 The balance 90 has a short arm 110which at the moment of firing comes to bear against the nose 107 oflever 106, after the inertia'pin' 105 has been withdrawn.-

Since during the whole duration of the linear acceleration the effect ofinertia acting on-the lever 106 is much greater than the action of thecentrifugal force, the said lever will be arrested in the position asrepresented in Figure 10.

Thus the balance 90 7 remains immobilized by the nose107 as long asthelinear acceleration continues, that is say during the complete passageof the projectile through the bore of the cannon and a few meters inadditionafter having left the gun. However, as soon as the linearacceleraceases, the lever 106 rotates onits pivot 108 under the actionof the centrifugal force and" takes a-position in which it is retainedwithin acountersink 11 1 of the regulator frame by means ofa' smallspring 112 which at the end of the stroke of the lever 106 enters acavity 113 in the countersink 111.

The nose 107 is at that time out of the way of the course of the balance90, which therefore may describe its first oscillation under the actionof its spiral spring 98 to 'which it is mechanically connected by theangle gear 94.

In order that the center of gravity remains in the axis of the fuse,another arm '1 10 is provided for symmetric to the first one.

The plane of oscillations of the lever 106 might be directed so thatwhen the lever is withdrawn, it gives to the balance an impulsefacilitating its start.

I claim as my invention:

1.111 a mechanical fuse for artillery proj'ectilcs of the type in whichthe power mem ber of the clockwork is constituted by a barrel shaftarranged in the axis of the fuse in such a manner as to describe severalrevolutions, in one direction for effecting, prior to'firing,simultaneously the winding and the setting or adjusting of the fuse, andin the inverse direction and during thetrajectory under the action ofthe power spring and for driving the rotary member controlling therelease of the striker member, and also for transmitting the drivingpower to a regulating device of the clockwork with a dead-beatescapement and a spiral balance, in combination a frame, for housing thedifferentn1ovable members of the clockwork, said frame being composed ofat least two parts, one of them bein a fixed one and containing thepower sprmg, said fixed part being integral with the fuse body, and amovable one adapted to become, prior to firing, displaced angularly withregard to the fixed part, for effecting simultaneously the winding ofthe power spring and the adjusting of the time of ignition of the projectile charge,means being provided, which, in function of the inertia,are adapted to render, during the complete trajectory, this movable partof the frame integral with the said fixed part.

2. A fuse as per claim 1, in which an oscillating safety member isarranged in such 'a manner, that the power of inertia generated by thelinear acceleration of the projectile is used for preventing, in spiteof the centrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing of theprojectile through the bore of the gun, the center of gravitation ofsaid memher being outside of the axis of rotation of w of the rotarymembers of the clockwork in said interval.

4. A fuse as per claim l, in which means are provided for maintainingthe movable part of the frame coupled with the barrel shaft of thefuseuntil the moment of firing.

5. A fuse as per claim 1 in which the movable, part of the frame housesthe gear train andv the regulating device of the clock work and isangularly displaced prior to firing by means of a key disposed in theaxis of the fuse in the point of the latter...

'6. A fuse as per'claim 1, in which the barrel shaft constituting thepower member carries on its top portion a crown wheel with inner teethin constant mesh with a pinion of the gear-train which, as well as allthe other wheels of said gear train, is held immobilized until firingthe projectile, but which participates in the rotation of the movablepart of the frame in such a manner. as to serve, prior to firing, forcausing the barrel shaft to partake in said rotation.

7. A fuse as per claim 1, in which means are provided for preventing thebalance of the regulating device from rotating respectively until themoment of the departure of the projectile and until the acceleration hascome to an end, inorder, to immobilize during all this time the-wheelsof the gear train by means of the escapement wheel adjusted in itsinoperative position in the course of manufacture and in order to allow,prior to firing, the crown with inner teeth and carried by the barrelshaft to be rotated too when the movable frame part is, rotatcdby thepinion in constant mesh with thesame.

8. A fuse as per claim 1, in whichv steel points are provided, mountedasto be axial- "parts and-within the top part of which the movable partof the frame may rotate frictionally. A

10. A fuse as per claim l, in. which steel] points are provided, mountedso as to be axially movable in the body of the fuse above the movablepart of the frame in such a manner as to allow them to penetrate by theeffect of inertia at the moment of firing in the't0p surface of saidmovable part so as to render it integral with the body of the fuse, thesaid-steel points being carried by a plunger mounted slidingly in anaxial bore of the body of the fuse above the movable: part of theframe,at least one centrifugal member being provided which is adapted:to thereupon place itself behind said plung er for the purpose ofimmobilizing it inits operative position during the. complete tra ectoryof theprojectiler 11..A fuse as per claim 1 in which anoscillatmg safetymember is arranged in such 1' a manner-that the power of inertiagenerated.

by the lincaracceleration of tlievprojectile is used for preventing, inspitev ofthefcentrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing ofthe projectile through'the bore of the gun,;the center of gravitation.of said mem er being outside of theaxis of rotation of the projectileinorder to have-the member to oscillate as soon as the linear accelerationhas reachedits end, that is after-therprojectile has left-the hereof.the gun," the said oscillation being used for-causing the release of theregulating balance of the fuse,

, thesaid oscillating safety member vbeing constituted by a lever which'may rotate in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation ofathe Iprojectile, said lever. being arrested during the entire duration ofthelinear acceleration in such a position as to prevent any displacement ofa centrifugal bolt'protruding between the striker and the primer,

12. A fuse as per claim'l, inwhichv an oscillating safety member isarranged in such amanner that the power of inertiagene eratedby thelinear acceleration of the projectile isusedfor preventing, in spite. ofthe centrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing of'theprojectile through the-bore of the gun, the center of gravitation ofsaid member being outside of theva'xis of rota-1 tion of the. projectileiniorderl to have the member to oscillate as soon as the linearacceleration has reached-its end, that, is after the projectile hasleftfthe bore of the gun, the saidv oscillation being used for causingthe release of the regulating balance of zthef 7 fuse.'the saidoscillating safety member being constituted by a lever which may rotatein a plane parallel to the axis of rotation of the projectile, saidlever being arrested during. the entire duration of the linearacceleration in-such a position as to prevent-any displacement ofaacentrifuga'l bolt protrud ing between the striker and the primer, and inwhich the said centrifugal bolt is con stitut'ed by a pinfthe gravitycenter'of which i is eccentric with regard to the axis 50f rotation ofthe projectile and-which is suscep tibleto be displaced in a radialslot, said pin having on the one part a longitudinal notch, intowhichmay penetrate the-pointof the striker, and on the other part, acylindrical cavity with a widened vborder into I which the point of thestriker is wedged in the case of some accidental function'of the latterin the bore of the gun, so that the said bolt will definitely becomeimmobilized in its active position.

13. A fuse as per claim 1, in which means are provided for preventingany axial displacement of one part of the clockwork frame with regard tothe other part and for holding the two frame parts a certain intervalapart from one another for lodging one of the rotary members of theclockwork it is possible for the movable part to become,

prior to firing, angularly displaced with regard to the said fixed framepart.

.14. A fuse as per claim 1, in which an oscillating safety member isarranged in such a manner, that the power of inertia generated by thelinear acceleration of the projectile is used, in spite of thecentrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing of the projectilethrough the bore of the gun, the center of gravitation of said memberbeing outside of the axis of rotation of the projectile, in order tohave the member to oscillate as soon as the linear acceleration hasreached its end, that is after the projectile has left the bore of thegun, the said oscillation being used for causing the release of thestriker member from the act-ion of said oscillating safety member.

15. A fuse as per claim 1 in which an oscillating safety member isarranged in such a manner that the power of inertia generated by thelinear acceleration of the projectile is used for preventing, in spiteof the centrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing of theprojectile through the bore of the gun, the center of gravitation ofsaid member being outside of the axis of rotation of the projectile inorder to have the member to oscillate as soon as the linear accelerationhas reached its end, that is after the projectile has left the bore ofthe gun, the said oscillation being used for releasing the strikermember from the action of the said safety member, the said oscillatingsafety member being constituted by a lever which may rotate in a planeparallel to the axis of rotation of the projectile, said lever beingarrested during the entire duration of the linear acceleration in such aposition as to prevent any displacement of a centrifugal bolt protrudingbetween the striker and the primer.

16. A fuse as per claim. 1, in which an oscillating safety member isarranged in such a manner that the power of inertia generated by thelinear acceleration of the projectile is used for preventing, in spiteof the centrifugal force, its oscillation during the passing of theprojectile through the bore of the gun, the center of gravitation ofsaid member being outside of the axis of rotation of the projectile inorder to have the member to oscillate as soon as the linear accelerationhas reached its end, that is after the projectile has left the bore ofthe gun, the said oscillation being used for releasing the strikermember from the action of the said safety member, the said oscillatingsafety member being constituted by a lever which may rotate in a planeparallel to the axis of rotation of the projectile, said lever beingarrested during the entire duration of the linear acceleration in such aposition as to prevent any displacement of a centrifugal bolt protrudingbetween the striker and the primer, and in which the said centrifugalbolt is constituted by a pin the gravity center of which is eccentricwith regard to the axis of rotation of the projectile and which issusceptible to be displaced in a radial slot, said pin having on the onepart alongitudinal notch, into which may penetrate the point of thestriker, and on the other part, a cylindrical cavity with a widenedborder into which the point of the striker is wedged in the case of someaccidental function of the latter in the bore of the gun, so that thesaid bolt will definitely become immobilized in its active position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDRE VARAUD.

